4 Cities, 4 Burgers: A Look Back At Amstel Light's Burger Weeks

Breaking down NY, Boston, Chicago, Philly burgers

Everyone loves a good burger debate. This fall, Food Republic partnered with our friends at Amstel Light — The Official Beer of the Burger — to cover the burger scenes of four major cities. Our coverage included interviews with chefs, bloggers, butchers and other notable figures about the burger selections in Boston, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, as well as historical timelines of the iconic food item in each city. We've rounded up the stories from these four burgercentric weeks here for your convenience.

4 Cities, 4 Burgers: A Look Back At Amstel Light's Burger Weeks

The Boston chef is a smash-and-scrape man

As one of Boston’s hottest young chefs, Jamie Bissonnette is known for cooking food that’s a little more complex than a juicy burger, but that doesn’t stop him from appreciating the beautiful simplicity of one. Read on for more of Bissonnette's burger knowledge, part of Boston Burger Week, brought to you by Amstel Light.

He’s no snob. Just make sure the burger’s right.

Richard Chudy is the man to know when talking about grilled beef patties, topped with lettuce, tomato and possibly some form of cheese or condiment, then wedged between a particular type of bread in Boston. So, we got to talking.

A city legend, and Julia Child favorite

“I’d say anywhere from 80-100 pounds per week,” estimates David Crespo, head butcher at the legendary Savenor’s Market in Cambridge. “And that’s just retail.” We’re talking about ground beef, which the shop has proudly been selling since they opening their doors in 1939. Julia Child has a big fan. How much? Read on.

A trip down one meaty memory lane

In a city most famous for lobster rolls and clam chowdah, Boston has a long and well-established hamburger history. In the year 2013, you will find burgers on the menus of some of the city’s top restaurants, with the city’s most talented chefs engineers creative takes on the backyard classic.

Writers, artists, designers, burger fans respond

When you’re in a new city and want to find the best burger, there’s nobody better to ask than the locals. To find out where notable New Yorkers find their favorite burgers, we reached out to a cast of artists, writers, designers and others.

Famed New York butcher on beef for burgers and more

No one knows more about meat in New York City than Mark Lobel. A fifth generation butcher whose family started out in the meat business in 1840, Mark is at the helm of Lobel’s, one of the city’s most renowned butcher shops, located on the Upper East Side. We caught up with him to talk all things burger.

Comedian discusses go-to spot, home cooking tips

It’s one thing to be a hamburger nut. Being one of the stars of a popular show on national television about a hamburger restaurant, however, is a whole other animal. We caught up with comedian Eugene Mirman of the animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers to talk about all things, well, burger.

A trip down one meaty memory lane

It’s no surprise that the “city that never sleeps” has a storied history in just about every category imaginable. Burgers can be found anywhere from neighborhood joints to classy establishments — to three-hour waits in local parks — in the city today, and the food item can be traced all the way back to the city’s ports in the mid-1800s. Here is a look at...

Talking ground beef with a gal who knows it well

A born-and-bred Chicagoan, Melissa “Missy” Corey found her way to the butcher business a bit unconventionally: by devoting a decade to farm-to-table cooking in Portland, Maine. Now back in her hometown, this up-and-coming butcher shares her burger knowledge with us.

Movers, shakers, burger lovers share their picks

Chicagoans love their dogs, but that doesn’t stop them from craving burgers as well. We asked a selection of the city’s most notable writers, artists, designers and media figures which burgers rate highest in their little black books.

Chicago's burger history is juicier than expected

Chicago hot dogs, you know (just don’t say ketchup). Chicago pizza? Legendary. By comparison, Chicago’s hamburger history may not be as illustrious, but it should be, as it’s fostered more classics than most folks realize. Behold: some of the greatest moments in the Windy City’s burger history.

Di Bruno Brothers chef talks burger tips, beef

Eric Hall sure knows a good burger. The current Corporate Chef of Di Bruno Brothers Italian Market in Philadelphia has years of experience dishing out patties to the city’s masses, having spent years as the Executive Chef of catering at the University of Pennsylvania and at Citizens Bank Park. We caught up with Eric to talk all things Philly burgers.

Vetri charge has opinions about the burger

Jeff Michaud is the Executive Chef and co-owner of Osteria Restaurant in Philadelphia — part of the happy Vetri family of restaurants—as well as the newly opened gastropub Alla Spina. Michaud is also a passionate supporter of the Philadelphia burger scene, which most certainly should not be overlooked. Because, when it comes down to it, isn’t the cheesesteak just...

The food writer knows all the best burger spots

Headed to Philadelphia and craving the city’s best burgers? One of first people you should ask for advice is Drew Lazor, a freelance writer who has been covering the local food scene for eight years. Here, he puts his exquisite burger knowledge on display, and when it comes to Philly’s best burgers, he’s not afraid to name names.

Pass the ketchup: It's a Philly burger timeline

Just because The City of Brotherly Love is most often identified with a different meaty creation doesn’t mean that it can’t have an impressive hamburger past (or that the two shouldn’t be combined into a single item). Philadelphia has experienced its share of memorable burger moments over the years, and the city has certainly garnered national recognition lately for its...